FIRST YEARLINGS

Although it is the Sadler's Wells and Danzig branches of the Northern Dancer (by Nearctic) line that have become dominant in Europe, in the USA it is the Storm Cat branch, plus the non-related A.P. Indy (by Seattle Slew) lines that have proved to be two of the most powerful.

Lightly-raced Can The Man, who was a Grade 1-placed, six-furlong listed scorer at two and made all to win the Grade 3 Affirmed Stakes at Santa Anita from just two starts at three, is a son of notable sire Into Mischief (by Harlan's Holiday), which makes him a representative of the Storm Cat line.

The distaff side of his family is one that is well known around the world, and this Spendthrift Farm resident has been popular since retiring to Kentucky. He covered 114 mares in his first season and 133 in his second, and he looks a likely candidate to do well as a source of stakes-winning offspring, with maybe the occasional Grade 1 performer among them.

A half-brother to the dual juvenile stakes winner Martha's Moon (by Malibu Moon), he is out of Smolensk (by Danzig), a smart miler who won the Group 2 Prix d'Astarte and Group 3 Prix de Sandringham and chased home Ridgewood Pearl in the Group 1 Coronation Stakes.

His grandam is the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks and Grade 1 Santa Susana Stakes heroine Blush With Pride (by Blushing Groom), his third dam is the Comely Stakes winner and US Broodmare of the Year Best In Show (by Traffic Judge), and so he comes from a branch of the family whose stallions feature Aldebaran (by Mr Prospector), El Gran Senor (by Northern Dancer), Good Journey (by Nureyev), Hurricane Sky (by Star Watch), Manhattan Rain (by Encosta De Lago), Redoute's Choice (by Danehill), Spinning World (by Nureyev), Umatilla (by Miswaki), and many others who have sired at least one winner at the highest level.

Those horses are between distant and remote in their relationship to Can The Man, but there are plenty of major winners more closely related.

His dam's siblings, for example, include Maryinsky (by Sadler's Wells) – who is the Group 1-placed dam of Group 1 stars Peeping Fawn (by Danehill) and Thewayyouare (by Kingmambo) – and Better Than Honour (by Deputy Minister) – the Grade 2-winning dam of classic stars Rags To Riches (by A.P. Indy) and Jazil (by Seeking The Gold) and grandam of both Grade 1 heroine Streaming (by Smart Strike) and Grade 2 scorer and young Japanese stallion Casino Drive (by Mineshaft).

Best In Show's sons Malinowski (by Sir Ivor) and Gielgud (by Sir Ivor) were pattern winners in England, daughter Monroe (by Sir Ivor) was a Group 3-winning sprinter in Ireland, and that filly's many notable descendants include her Group 1-winning son Xaar (by Zafonic) and Grade 1-winning grandson Senure (by Nureyev).

It is Best In Show's unraced daughter Sex Appeal (by Buckpasser) who gave us the aforementioned juvenile champion, dual classic star and successful classic sire El Gran Senor, plus his Group 1-winning full-brother Try My Best (by Northern Dancer) whose male line descendants include Acclamation (by Royal Applause) and his son Dark Angel.

Nijinsky's Best (by Nijinsky), another daughter of Best In Show, was the unraced dam of triple Grade 1 star Yagli (by Jade Hunter), while Show Lady (by Sir Ivor), who was also unraced, is the mare from whom the above-noted Group 1 stars and sires Redoute's Choice, Manhattan Rain, Hurricane Sky and Umatilla descend, among others of note.

There are many other stakes and pattern / graded winners in the branches of just these first few generations of the pedigree. Can The Man was bred to achieve anything on the track, and he showed talent in what was a short career. It will be no surprise if he compensates for that at stud.